topic Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error in Community Chat

What Would You Do? Medical Error

focksie — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:48:04 GMT

I recently went for an imaging test which ruled out cancer. I received the final report with an incorrect date of birth on it. I called the office and an administrator assured me over the phone that those results were, in fact, mine. That wasn't good enough for me. I asked if she could send me a letter that acknowledged their error, stated that it had been corrected, and assured me the results were mine. She said okay.

I just received a copy of a summary of the test results sent to the referring physician. My date of birth on this letter was correct, however the report began "This is a 55 year old woman who..."

I am not 55. I would be 55 according to the original incorrect date of birth on the report.

I left a message for the administrator to call me. I still want a letter acknowledging their error, stating they have corrected the error, and assuring me the results are mine.

What would you do? I was thinking I'm taking this too far, but IMO this is a serious and egregious error. I'm sick and tired of medical personnel being incompetent. Please try to put yourselves in my shoes and think about if it had been your medical test results.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

brii — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:50:22 GMT

I would repeat the test - just for my own peace of mind.

I would also contact your doctor and let him/her know you want the test repeated.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

LilacTree — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:50:59 GMT

You are not by any means taking this too far. These are probably not your results. I would insist upon getting retested (for no charge). This is your life we are talking about. It's totally unacceptable.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

betteb — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:55:05 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Ford1224 said:
You are not by any means taking this too far. These are probably not your results. I would insist upon getting retested (for no charge). This is your life we are talking about. It's totally unacceptable.

Yes I agree. You may have to make an appointment and take it straight to the Dr, but keep pushing.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

focksie — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:55:14 GMT

I should get more specific and say this was a thyroid nodule biopsy, 4 nodes in total were biopsied. The thing is, I first saw the ENT who did an ultrasound to identify these 4 nodules. Then I went to the imaging center to have the 4 nodules biopsied. The results are of these 4 nodules. I shouldn't really have any reason to think the results are not mine based on the consistency of the 4 separate biopsies done between my initial ENT visit and at the imaging center, but I'm still angry about it.

I really do not want to go through the biopsies again. It was not pleasant. I was crying.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

Lila Belle — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:57:49 GMT

I'd get myself to the doctor ASAP and get my questions answered if it were me.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

RedTop — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:58:09 GMT

I agree with brii, to repeat the test and make sure the diagnostic report is actually your results. At this point, getting a letter is not going to be worth the paper it is written on as far as I am concerned. Any medical test for cancer is too important to have the results possibly mixed up with another patient. Insist that the test be done again, and do not let them bill your insurance for it. Best wishes to you!

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:58:48 GMT

I agree with Lila. I'd make an appointment with the physician and get to the bottom of it. I understand everyone makes mistakes but this is your life and they should be more careful.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

Free2be — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:59:57 GMT

Clinical opinions almost always refer to the patient by their secks and age. The clinician was going by the date he/she had available.

If there is nothing in that report that is specific to you, asking for some kind of clarifying letter is not too much to ask. Perhaps your referring physician ought to get it clarified for his/her own protection since he/she will be treating your based on that diagnostic test. ??

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

Lila Belle — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:00:35 GMT

On 3/18/2014 LipstickDiva said:
I agree with Lila. I'd make an appointment with the physician and get to the bottom of it. I understand everyone makes mistakes but this is your life and they should be more careful.

I wouldn't even make an apt.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

LilacTree — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:02:35 GMT

I also have sympathy for the other woman who may have cancer and think she doesn't. I hope they notify her that she has to be retested as well.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

adelle38 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:05:33 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Ford1224 said:
I also have sympathy for the other woman who may have cancer and think she doesn't. I hope they notify her that she has to be retested as well.

What makes you think there is another woman? It could be a typo in the OP's birth date.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

focksie — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:09:38 GMT

Adelle, the first DOB was too far off to be a typo.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

focksie — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:14:37 GMT

Again, I'm counting on the fact that the size and location of each of the 4 nodes identified at the ENT visit were exactly the same 4 nodules, same size and location, biopsied a week later at the imaging center. I can't imagine this consistency would be anything but my own results despite the incorrect DOB on the report. Oh please don't tell me to go for another 4 biopsies.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:17:56 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Lila Belle said:
On 3/18/2014 LipstickDiva said:
I agree with Lila. I'd make an appointment with the physician and get to the bottom of it. I understand everyone makes mistakes but this is your life and they should be more careful.

I wouldn't even make an apt.

Chances are without one, she's not going to get in.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

brii — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:21:06 GMT

On 3/18/2014 focksie said:
Again, I'm counting on the fact that the size and location of each of the 4 nodes identified at the ENT visit were exactly the same 4 nodules, same size and location, biopsied a week later at the imaging center. I can't imagine this consistency would be anything but my own results despite the incorrect DOB on the report. Oh please don't tell me to go for another 4 biopsies.

Is there a chance that the imaging center still has your biopsies?

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

betteb — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:22:18 GMT

On 3/18/2014 focksie said:
Again, I'm counting on the fact that the size and location of each of the 4 nodes identified at the ENT visit were exactly the same 4 nodules, same size and location, biopsied a week later at the imaging center. I can't imagine this consistency would be anything but my own results despite the incorrect DOB on the report. Oh please don't tell me to go for another 4 biopsies.

Just get directly to your Dr. Make an appointment with him. He probably doesn't even know about your problem. Let him reassure you.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

LilacTree — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:22:42 GMT

On 3/18/2014 adelle38 said:
On 3/18/2014 Ford1224 said:
I also have sympathy for the other woman who may have cancer and think she doesn't. I hope they notify her that she has to be retested as well.

What makes you think there is another woman? It could be a typo in the OP's birth date.

Because the report discusses a 55-year-old woman, and the OP is not 55. It's obviously someone else's test results and not just a typo.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

lulu2 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:23:17 GMT

I would definitely make an appointment with the doctor.

Re: What Would You Do? Medical Error

lovescats — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:32:28 GMT

My doctor has another patient with the same name as mine so people in his office who don't always ask for the date of birth first sometimes bring up the wrong records so it could still be human error. It would be upsetting.